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Zumba!

“I believe that anyone can dance. All you need is a smile.” – Alexandra Barouti

I’m not a dancer at all. In fact, I remember my failed attempt at jazz ballet as a kid. But I am keen to give anything a second chance, so when a friend suggested Zumba, I jumped at it.

I joined a class with Alexandra, a professionally trained dancer and teacher of Zumba, Latin, Ballroom, Oriental and Modern dance. She is also a choreographer for theater and musicals. Alexandra is a fellow international in Eindhoven, hailing from Greece, and conducts all her classes in English. She is vibrant, friendly, energetic, and definitely brings her smile along!

“Zumba is a fun, high stamina class. You don’t need to have any dance experience. Every lesson is a party.” – Alexandra Barouti

There were about eight of us in the class, and despite being a little nervous at my lack of dance skills, and wondering if everyone else would be fabulous while I fumbled along, once the class started, any fears faded away.

Alexandra started with basic moves in the beginning routines, then built up to more advanced moves as the class progressed. Although it took a few minutes to follow along, it was never daunting or overwhelming. It was actually the opposite – I felt like I could do it! I was also working up a sweat, and most importantly, I was having loads of fun.

“Insanely good exercise” – TIME Health

According to TIME Health, Zumba has many physical health benefits, including better core strength and balance, as well as mental health benefits, citing increased self-esteem and more positive body image. In addition, research into Zumba has shown that it’s one of the best exercises for people who dislike exercise! Reasons? It’s fun, people make friends at classes, and it doesn’t seem like hard work.

So if you’re looking for a lively and enjoyable way to exercise, why not step out of your comfort zone and give Zumba a go? I’m sure you won’t regret it!